sambum

".............in Thailand, if the police say you're guilty of something, at the very best it just gets expensive." How right you are! A while ago, in the bad old days of Covid restrictions, I heard of a guy who was sitting at a table at the other side of a narrow soi from a bar when it got raided by the BIB for illegal drinking. He got roped in with the others, and to make it "brief" (pun intended) he was going to plead not guilty, and the official court interpreter told him that if he did , he would be remanded in custody for a week at least, he would have to get a lawyer (at considerable expense) and when he came back to court he would be found guilty ("guaranteed") and get twice the punishment that the "guilty" pleaders got! So he decided to plead guilty!

As per usual, clear as mud!

Lou put the bait out and you bit! Put him on "Ignore" and I'm sure you'll feel much better for it!

See my post above yours - it's being unknowingly forced on you! ????

"Its addition in food needs to be carefully controlled and explained to tourists. Some don't know it is going in food and get a nasty shock when tested after flying home". So it's being put into food and the customer doesn't even know about it! I find that hard to accept! ????

And Koh Samui not even mentioned!

He said that the government and the Tourism Authority of Thailand had made great efforts to promote tourism this year and their 10 million target for 2022 can be reached with 7 million already achieved according to unofficial estimates. (Items to note are shown in bold text and underlined!)

And the King of U Turns, Anutin will not be doing so this time! Why? Probably because he has a few baht invested in marijuana production and distribution - a legalised drug lord!

Do you not think that all of the above "facts and evidence" that you refer to will have been investigated already? They are not going to publish all those facts just to suit a particular individual. However I am sure that if you are so interested in the case, they may be available on request. The fact that he's "done a runner" says a lot! And "This could be (a?) statement from (a?) delusional indivisual (individual?) living in a fantasy world." smacks of victim blaming to me! Most of us will have all heard the "boy cries wolf" scenarios as regards women crying rape, (World Heavyweight Boxing Champ Mike Tyson and Miss World contestant?) but from your tone, you are implying that she made it all up, (with no evidence!) which from the information we have been given seems highly unlikely.

A bit like killing a policeman on a motor bike and dragging his body for several yards, and then claiming it was somebody else "wot dun it", and then disappearing from the country?

And does an extension based on marriage to a Thai national come under the banner of "resident families"

They had to make it up to a round dozen - 11 doesn't sound quite right!

Reading this and the post prior to yours, it would appear that everybody's reaction to the virus is different. My wife and I have both had 3 jabs, and I tested positive at a routine doctor's visit for a stomach complaint. I had no symptoms over the next few days and tested negative a few days later. My wife originally tested negative but was positive the next day, and went down with the usual flu type symptoms for 2 or 3 days, and was then negative but was left with a bit of a cough for a couple of weeks. I am elderly with a heart complaint, so I guess the vax helped keep the symptoms at bay - who knows? But according to most medical opinions, you are better vaxed than not if you are vulnerable.

"A top Thai government agency has revealed that the number of young people under 20 now using the drug has doubled since it was decriminalised in June." Now I presume that will come as a HUGE surprise to the Minister of Health!

Yes, Liz Truss could fit in well with the current Thai Government - especially when the Minister of Health openly promotes and "legalises" a product that was illegal, and "can be" a health hazard in some people, but in which he has personally invested a lot of money. But as you say - TIT!

Yes! When a supposedly "social" Pit Bull Terrier attacks and kills its owner when they are sleeping in the same bed (no sarcastic comments, please!) and is then taken to the temple to apologise to the corpse, there is something very, very wrong!!!

I think you misunderstand my point! What I am saying is that there is nothing on the checklist about a letter from the Bank, so how do you know that you have to have one? Last year, I had to go back to the Bank and get a letter for Immigration, and as it was on a Friday, by the time I got to the Bank, it was too late for them to produce the letter for me, and consequently could not get it done until the Monday. However, it was too late to get to Immigration that day, so I had to go on the Tuesday. I was then told that the statement which I had acquired from the Bank on the Thursday to take on the Friday was now "out of date" as it was only valid for 3 days, so I had to get another one, and another letter, which meant ANOTHER visit to the Bank! This year I acquired the statement and the letter the day before I went to Immigration, but was told that this year the bank book update (that had previously to be produced within 3 days) now had to be produced on the same day that I made my application, so once again, ANOTHER visit to the Bank the next day! So you realise what I mean by "pedantry"? Fair enough, at your Immigration Office, you have been meeting those requirements for the last 8 years, which is no problem if you know what is required (i.e. what is on the checklist). But when it does not appear on the checklist at all, and then they change the timings of the requirements the next year, it all becomes a bit frustrating - and costly, as each letter costs 100 baht, each statement costs 200 baht, and each visit to Immigration can cost 500 baht each way in a taxi! I suppose, they could be even more choosy by asking for the letter, the statement, and the Bank book update all to be produced on the same day as the application, but that would be a bit much to ask - wouldn't it? ????

That's exactly what I was asking!

A bit off topic, but a bit like the usual Thai "sledgehammer to crack a nut" approach! Remember alcohol being banned on all the trains because of the horrendous behaviour of one of their own employees?

Sorry, but I rarely have dreams, unfortunately! ???? However, for your information, from September 21, 2021 :- "Thailand Plans to Cut Import Duty on Wine and Spirits by 50%" (Also planned was a 50% reduction on the duty on cigars!) Customs Director-General Patchara Anuntasilpa was quoted as saying that about 30% of alcoholic beverage and cigar products will be covered by the planned tax cuts.

A friend of mine was denied entry to the USA for the very same minor drugs charge. (Possession of marijuana) He put "None" on some paperwork, and was dragged off to Immigration at the airport and grilled for a "very serious crime"!!! And put on the next plane home to Blighty!

Of course not - he thought that once restrictions were dropped, tourists would flood back in their millions with not a thought about whether people could afford it!

And for the benefit of small business owners! Elections coming up?

Yes, I have also seen some idiots in Immigration "shouting and carrying on" which to be honest doesn't get you anywhere, and I once heard an I.O. tell a "Do you know who I am" type who was using foul language to "go back to your United States of wherever" and quite rightly so. But I have also been party to ridiculous requirements from Immigration that are not even noted on their "Extension Checklists", so how are you expected to have the correct paperwork in such cases? For instance, where I live, for a marriage extension you have to have a bank statement for the previous 12 months (when you are going by the monthly income route) which is on the checklist, but it does not mention that you also have to have a letter from the Bank to verify that the balance in your bank book is correct! Last year this letter (and the statement) was valid for 3 days, but this year the letter (which is not on the checklist) has to be acquired from the Bank on the day that you make your extension application at Immigration! And your bank book has to be updated on that day too - which is also not mentioned on the "checklist". Just a couple of instances of "pedantry" to frustrate the genuine applicants!

Or maybe you get too stressed out by the nonsensical requirements/requests of Immigration that seem to change every time you need an extension? I heard of a guy that had to go to Immigration EIGHT times before they gave him an "Under Consideration" Stamp! (Each time involving a lengthy wait to see the I.O. dealing with his case, and a lengthy trip to get there from his house!)